Gilbert Islands and Banabans (Hansard, 24 November 1977)

§ Mr. Luard

Yes. The text is as follows:

JOINT RESOLUTIONS (TO BE KNOWN AS THE 'BAIRIKI RESOLUTIONS') APPROVED BY THE GILBERT ISLANDS GOVERNMENT AND THE RABI COUNCIL OF LEADERS AT A MEETING HELD IN TARAWA, GILBERT ISLANDS, FROM 1st to 9th NOVEMBER 1977.

1. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved as follows: 880W

(i) that a referendum to decide on the separation of Banaba from the Gilbert Islands should be held on all islands of the Gilbert Islands and, with the prior approval of the Government of Fiji, on Rabi also;
(ii) that a visiting mission from the United Nations Organisation should be invited to supervise the referendum mentioned in (i) above and that Her Majesty's Government must be bound to honour the outcome of the referendum when deciding on the question of independence at the forthcoming constitutional conference;
(iii) that Her Majesty's Government should be asked to arrange and meet the cost of the referendum in (i) above and to invite a visiting team from the United Nations Organisation in accordance with (ii) above;
(iv) that the referendum mentioned in (i) above should be held as soon as possible after the General Elections in the Gilbert Islands and the Rabi Council of Leaders elections but before the Constitutional Conference;
(v) that ballot papers to be used in the referendum should contain the following words only—

'Ko taku n am iango ba Banaba bon teuana maibuakon abani Kiribati ke tiaki?

(1) Banaba BON abani Kiribati	□
(2) Banaba bon TIAKI abani Kiribati	□

2. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved that Her Majesty's Government make available to the Rabi Council of Leaders with effect from January 1978 till current mining on Banaba ceases, without reducinug the amount that the Gilbert Islands Government is receiving from phosphate taxation, a sum of money equivalent to but not less than 60 per cent. of phosphate royalties on the pre-1973 leases and a further sum equivalent to but not less than 25 per cent. of phosphate royalties on the 1973 leases without reducing the current Banabans' share from phosphate royalty benefit.

3. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved that Her Majesty's Government, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand be requested to provide funds for the rehabilitation of Banaba and that the said fund must not reduce, in any way, the Gilbert Islands' allocation for development aid from the said Governments.

4. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved that the partner Governments should be asked to set up the British Phosphate Commissioners' reserve fund as a separate fund for distribution to the Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders.

5. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved that Her Majesty's Government should be asked to 881W set up the Management Board as agreed to in The Tarawa Agreement 1976.

6. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved that the Rabi Council of Leaders should go ahead with the replanting of Banaba wherever possible and that the Gilbert Islands Government would provide seedlings for fruit bearing trees not readily available on Banaba and offer any other possible assistance.

7. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved that the definition of the word native" in the Gilbert Islands Closed District Ordinance should be extended so as to include people certified as Banabans by the Rabi Council of Leaders and/or its representative on Banaba.

8. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders jointly resolved that henceforth Ocean Island be referred to only by is Gilbertese name "Banaba".

9. The Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of leaders resolve to continue dialogue on matters of common interest and be united in their submissions to Her Majesty's Government or any other Government or organisation with the view to improving the lot of their people.

10. The Gilbert Islands Government acknowledges the offer made by the Rabi Council of Leaders that should the outcome of the referendum, referred to in 1 above, be in favour of Banaba's separation:—

(i) that 25 per cent. of the phosphate royalty benefit should continue to be paid to the Gilbert Islands Government till mining ceases on Banaba;
(ii) that Gilbertese labour should continue to be used on Banaba;
(iii) that the Gilbert Islands Government should be allowed to fish in the Banaban economic zone up to 20 miles within Banaban waters;
(iv) that the Gilbert Islands Government utilises the services and facilities offered by Rabi Holdings Ltd.

11. The Rabi Council of Leaders acknowledges the offer made by the Gilbert Islands Government that should the outcome of the referendum, referred to in 1 above, be not in favour of Banaban's separation:—

(i) that the existing basis for the division of the royalty between the Rabi Council of Leaders and the Gilbert Islands Government remain unchanged till mining ceases on Banaba;
(ii) that the existing employment arrangements continue unless changed by the Gilbert Islands Government;
(iii) that the Banabans, subject to the provisions of the Closed District Ordinance, be allowed to commute freely between Rabi in Fiji and Banaba and any other Gilbert Islands;
(iv) that the Banabans retain their right of land ownership in the Gilbert Islands;
(v) that the Gilbert Islands Government should provide the basic provisions 882 by the Banabans who opt to return and resettle on Banaba;
(vi) that the Banabans be, subject to the concurrence of the Fiji Government, conferred dual citizenship by the Gilbert Islands Government upon application;
(vii) that the Banabans elect one of their members to be their representative at the Gilbert Islands House of Assembly.

Signed at Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands this fourteenth day of November, 1977.

For the Gilbert Islands Government:—

(Naboua T. Ratieta, CBE)
(Teweia Uaruta)
(Otiuea Tanentoa)
(Bwebwetake Areieta)
(Tekarei Russell)
(Roniti Toiwaki)
(Ibeata Tonganibeia)
(Teatao Teannaki)

For the Rabi Council of Leaders:—

(Rotan Tito)
Teikabua Teaoti)
(Tebeke Anterea)
(Tekaie Tabuariki)
(Area Tekineno)
(Duratako Tuatoira)
(Kariatabwowa Tabuariki)
(Durentau Tabunawati)